School, Marks, Exams, … Posted by Nitya on Oct 27, 2016
In India, before schools break for winter, classrooms and homes are a flutter of nervousness as children prepare feverishly for their first semester exams or pareeksha (परीक्षा). In India, all exams have marks/points unk (अंक ) that matter in determining your overall performance for the year. If you pass (or exceed a certain percentage), you are…
Part 3: Indians in Popular American T.V. and Movies Posted by Rachael on Oct 24, 2016
In this third and final installment in a series on Indians in America (the first and second parts explore Indian immigration to America and the many “Little Indias” to be found here), I wanted to talk about the contributions Indian-Americans have made to popular American television and movies. Mindy Kaling Also known by her original…
Festivals … and Mithaai! Posted by Nitya on Oct 20, 2016
When I was growing up in India, the fall season was always my favorite time of the year. Once the monsoons had tapered off, typically marked by Ganesh visarjan (गणेश विसर्जन/immersion of Ganesh idols), it was time to look forward to cooler and shorter days. However, the barely imperceptible shift to decreasing temperatures was not as much the…
Part 2: Indias in America Posted by Rachael on Oct 17, 2016
नमस्ते सब लोग/Namaste sab log (Hello everyone)! As part two of the three-part series “Indians in America” (the first part looked at the history of Indian immigration to the United States), this blog talks about some of my personal experiences with “Little Indias” in the U.S.! These microcosms of different Indian cultures have grown up…
I Need to See a Doctor Posted by Nitya on Oct 12, 2016
Falling sick during a trip is any traveler’s worst nightmare. A sniffle in Agra can quickly snowball into a full-blown flu by the time you reach Kerala. And if you don’t do something about the emboldened germs, you might soon be spending your time convalescing inside your houseboat instead of enjoying the sights of the…
Part 1, Indians in America: An Action-Packed Saga from 1635 to the Present Posted by Rachael on Oct 10, 2016
Welcome (आपका स्वागत है!/Aapka svaagat hai)! This is the first part of a three part series on Indians in America. I hope you enjoy this blog! (मुझे आशा है कि यह ब्लॉग आपको पसंद आयेगा!/Mujhe aasha hai ki yah blog aapko pasand aayega)! Immigration to the United States from what we now call the Republic…
How far is the Pushkar Fair? Posted by Nitya on Oct 5, 2016
The mention of Pushkar Mela (fair) usually generates an excited buzz in travelers to India. Domestic and foreign tourists alike visit the fair for a glimpse and experience of Rajasthan’s intense colors and customs. However, the original fair itself started as a venue where Rajasthani farmers traded camels and cattle. Each year, in the Hindu month of…